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Eavesdropping, Chocolate and Moods

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Submitted by Hastings on Mon, 02/26/2024 - 9:59am

So, apparently, SS13 has been listening in on conversations. Things have been difficult for me lately. A lot of work stress and I'm trying to process a lot of emotions around my grandmother's death. DH and I had a bit of an argument Saturday night -- no yelling or anything, and we talked some things out.

I haven't been super fun to be around and despite my efforts, I've been less cheerful and have occasionally been short. SS has noticed. DH told him I'm dealing with grief and this is normal.

Alienation continues, but DH stood his ground

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Submitted by Hastings on Sat, 02/10/2024 - 12:02pm

SS13 has been extra annoying lately, but some things seemed to get better. Then this week:

1) We have a rule that all electronics are handed over at bedtime. This week, we discovered he'd snuck something in and was keeping it. DH confiscated everything and he could only have his phone for school (DH wants him to have it in case there's a bus problem -- they have to put them in lockers during the day.)

New dog and SS annoyances

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Submitted by Hastings on Wed, 01/31/2024 - 9:29am

We adopted a new dog last weekend. (Sweet boy but needs a little training -- and our little older guy is adjusting relatively well.) SS13 had a bowling tournament at the same time as our scheduled meet and greet. Bad weather had already pushed this more than a week, so we didn't want to leave the dog in foster care even longer by delaying further. It was our week for SS, so DH asked BM to take SS. She agreed. (This tournament was one she signed SS up for without checking to see if it was our week or asking DH if it was ok, so he didn't feel bad about having her deal with it.)

SS Week Off to a Great Start

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Submitted by Hastings on Mon, 01/22/2024 - 10:42am

Schools around here were closed all last week thanks to snow, followed by bitter cold that kept it from melting. (This is the South. We have limited supplies and equipment for handling snow.) Thank goodness, it was BM's week.

Yesterday, we picked up SS13 and he's overjoyed about possibly not having to go Monday. DH and I both pointed out that he won't be so excited when he's having to go to school into June. (By state law, they're no longer allowed AMI days. They have to tack missed days onto the end of the year.)

Good lord, the smell

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Submitted by Hastings on Sun, 01/07/2024 - 1:26pm

We went for a while without the stench. SS13 got in the car, no overwhelming scent of cat/dog/cat pee/who knows.

Today we picked him up and I swear, my eyes watered. DH is congested, so he had no reaction. Usually SS goes straight upstairs. Not today. Today he didn't eat lunch first so he ate with us in the living room then hung around to watch tv. Now I'm going to have to fumigate the damned couch.

Funeral update

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Submitted by Hastings on Sat, 01/06/2024 - 8:42am

Just to update, we ended up not taking SS13 to my grandmother's funeral. He was better, but still coughing a lot so DH decided it was best to leave him in school.

1) Last thing you want in a solemn service is loud coughing fits.

2) The internment was short, but involved being outside in windy, 33-degree weather with sleet. Not ideal for someone just getting over the flu.

Family Funeral and Skid

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Submitted by Hastings on Tue, 01/02/2024 - 10:30am

My beloved grandmother passed away early Sunday morning at age 93. She and I were always incredibly close, but at the same time, she had deteriorated significantly both physically and mentally, so I had time to prepare. It was time. She was ready and had been, really, since my grandfather's death 10 years ago.

Naturally, funerals bring up a lot of emotions and complications. For us, the question has come up about SS13. Do we bring him?

Poor widdle prince

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Submitted by Hastings on Sun, 12/17/2023 - 8:41pm

Usually SS12 (nearly 13) is with us noon Sunday until noon the next Sunday, but there's the occasional adjustment to accommodate trips or to make holidays fall correctly. They usually make it up somehow. Last month, BM got him a day early for their Thanksgiving trip to Disney. So, this time, he's with us an extra night.

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